MAC CHIEF URGES BEIJING TO RESUME TALKS AFTER LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS

Joseph Wu, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, made the
remarks when he was interviewed by Ming Pao, a major Hong Kong daily.

Wu noted that Taiwan has gone out of its way to look for issues
that have few political implications, such as charter flights during
the Chinese New Year holiday and cross-strait cargo charter flights,
so as to avoid the talks between the two sides of the strait from
breaking down yet again.
"Once the issues with few political implications bear fruit, they
will lay the basis for future talks," Wu said.

He pointed out that Taiwan has responded to requests by Beijing
on two-way cross-strait charter flights without rerouting via third
places during the Chinese New Year holiday, and the question now is
whether Beijing is willing to talk.

Charter flights for Taiwan businessmen operating on the mainland
were opened on a trial basis during the 2003 Chinese New Year
holiday, but it was only one-way and had to make stopovers in Hong
Kong or Macau. The service was disrupted for the 2004 holiday after
both sides failed to discuss Beijing's request for two-way service
without stopping over in third places.

Wu said that past experience shows that as long as mainland China
is willing to negotiate, a lot of issues can be handled in a flexible
way. But if Beijing insists on accepting its "one China" concept as a
prerequisite, it will continue to be a big hurdle for such talks.

Taiwan has observed since late last year that the mainland has no
intention to negotiate because the Beijing authorities are worried
about uncertainty following the recent presidential elections in the
United States, the Dec. 11 legislative elections in Taiwan, and the
change of guard in the mainland leadership.
"Now that all three factors have passed, it will be a good
environment for both sides to resume talks, " Wu said.

He also urged Hong Kong to set up a representative office in
Taiwan, saying that it would further cement Taiwan-Hong Kong
relations.

He noted that Hong Kong's status changed after 1999, but "our
Hong Kong policy or attitude toward Hong Kong has not changed. We
continue to think Hong Kong is a very important place, especially
because Hong Kong may be able to play a role when both sides of the
Taiwan Strait still have no formal communication channel."

He pointed out the close trade exchanges between the two places,
with Hong Kong as the second-largest export destination for Taiwan,
and its third-largest trading partner, with two-way trade surpassing
US$30 billion.
"From the angle of mutual benefits, we hope that Hong Kong can
set up a representative office in Taiwan, " Wu said, adding that a
lot of Hong Kong residents study in Taiwan, conduct business or go
sightseeing there, and that if there was a representative office,
administrative efficiency would be higher and relations between
Taiwan and Hong Kong closer.